SNP favourite to replace Humza Yousaf backed transgender self-ID at 16

John Swinney, the favourite to take over from Humza Yousaf as leader of the SNP, backed a policy to allow gender self-identification at 16 years old.

The former deputy first minister voted in favour of Nicola Sturgeon's Gender Recognition Reform Bill. The legislation would have allowed children as young as 16 to apply to change their gender in law without medical evidence.

A leadership race was triggered after Yousaf annnounced his resignation yesterday, with Swinney a frontrunner for the job.

Kates Forbes, a former SNP finance secretary, is also expected to stand.

Swinney quit the Scottish government after Sturgeon stood down in February 2023.

In the wake of Yousaf's resignation, he has said he is "giving very careful consideration” to standing as a unity candidate. The former deputy leader is under significant pressure from senior figures inside the SNP to stand.

He told Sky News: "I’ve been somewhat overwhelmed by the requests that have been made for me to do that, with many, many messages from many colleagues across the party.

"So I’m giving that issue very active consideration."

Yousaf announced his resignation as first minister of Scotland yesterday lunchtime, avoiding having to face a no-confidence vote in his leadership.

Giving a press conference at Bute House in Edinburgh, he said it has been an "honour" to serve as First Minister. He said he will continue in his post until a successor is elected.

Yousaf had been battling for his political survival after ending the powersharing deal between the SNP and Scottish Greens last week.

He was facing one vote of no confidence tabled by the Scottish Conservatives, while Scottish Labour had tabled a second vote of no confidence in the Scottish Government as a whole, with both expected to take place this week.

The outgoing First Minister admitted to having “underestimated” the level of hurt ending the power-sharing deal with the Greens would have.

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While he said it was “the right decision”, he continued: “Unfortunately in ending the Bute House Agreement in the matter I did clearly underestimated the level of hurt and upset that caused Green colleagues.

“For a minority government to be able to govern effectively trust when working with the opposition is clearly fundamental.”

He said a route through the no-confidence vote was “absolutely possible”.

But he added: “I am not willing to trade in my values or principles or do deals with whomever simply for retaining power.”